Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 23/11/2012 06/03/2009

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early years provision

This inspection: 2 Previous inspection: 3 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children 2 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 2

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This provision is good

 Children's learning and play are supported to a good level by a childminder who provides a broad educational programme. She plans activities and events that extend and promote children's early learning skills.  Children show high levels of curiosity, they are active learners and have a sense of belonging and a strong bond with their childminder and her family.  Children's progress and well-being are supported as the childminder has developed strong links with other early years settings, such as the local pre-school. This supports children's continuity of care and learning.  Children are safeguarded effectively as the childminder has a secure knowledge of child protection procedures and provides care in a safe and secure home.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 Parents are not encouraged to regularly share information from home and to contribute to the children's learning journeys. Therefore, the childminder is not fully informed about children's progress at home to further support their learning with her.  Parents' views are not regularly sought as part of the evaluation process. This would enable the childminder to more fully evaluate her practice and to identify areas to be developed.

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Information about this inspection

Inspections of registered early years provision are scheduled:  at least once in every inspection cycle. The current cycle ends on 31 July 2016  more frequently where Ofsted identifies a need to do so, for example where provision was previously judged as inadequate  brought forward in the inspection cycle where Ofsted has received information that suggests the provision may not be meeting the legal requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage; or where assessment of the provision identifies a need for early inspection  prioritised for inspection where we have received information that the provision is not meeting the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and which suggests children may not be safe  at the completion of an investigation into failure to comply with the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Information about this inspection

The provision is also registered on the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. This report includes a judgment about compliance with the requirements of that register.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's play in the main lounge.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at records of the children's progress, assessment records and other documents relating to the welfare requirements.

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in 2003 on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband, adult child and two children aged 13 and 11 years in Abbots Langley on the outskirts of Watford, Hertfordshire. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding. Children do not generally access upstairs other than to use the family bathroom and for young children to sleep. There is a secure garden for outside play.

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Information about the setting

There are currently two children on roll in the early years age group. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

 develop opportunities to enable parents to share information from home and for them to contribute to their children's learning records on a more regular basis

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To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

 build on the evaluation process to include the views of parents to assist in identifying areas for improvement.

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who attend

Children are confident and capable learners as the childminder provides interesting and age-appropriate toys and resources that challenge their developing skills. There is consistent interaction and support by the childminder to extend children's play experiences. The childminder promotes the areas of learning throughout the activities she provides. Children are keen to help put up the indoor play tent in the design of a house. They are beginning to understand how the structure is put together and help in putting on the cover and adjusting it so they can get in the door. The tent is used as the basis for the afternoon play. Children's social skills are well developed as they play with baby dolls. They make beds, put the dolls to bed and take them for walks in the pushchair. They re- enact previous experiences, showing they have a good understanding about the wider world.

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who attend

Young children show great delight as the childminder introduces torches to their play. Children manage the small torches with great dexterity as they use the switches and twist the handle to change the colours and patterns and to turn them on and off. They can talk about the colours and patterns of light that change as they shine on the floor, the walls and on their hands. They have very good language for their age and are developing simple mathematical skills as they try to count the flashing patterns.

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who attend

The childminder promotes all areas of the children's play through a wide educational programme. Children enjoy art and craft activities at creative play sessions. Their physical development is extended at activity groups. Children are encouraged to practice their jumping skills and to use ride-on toys to refine their coordination and balance. The childminder uses the Sure Start children's centre for drop-in play sessions and the toy library. Children's progress is well supported by the childminder as she shares her observations and assessments with the pre-school. This includes involvement in the progress check at age two years. Areas to be promoted are jointly identified and the childminder links these with the activities she provides.

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who attend

The children's learning journeys show they take part in many varied activities and events in the home and the community. Observations are based on the Development Matters outcomes. These are effective in identifying children's abilities and to plan for their continued progress. Parents are not consistently encouraged to contribute to the learning journeys or to supply information about their children's ongoing learning at home. Therefore, the childminder is unable to use this information to maximise children's learning opportunities with her.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

Young children have developed strong bonds with the other children cared for by the childminder, and with her family. They can retell details of outings and events with great delight. They are confident in asking for help and are included in the decisions about the daily routines as the childminder involves them in discussions about lunch time and what they want to do. Lunch is shared with a favourite toy. Plates and glasses are set for 'Rebecca Rabbit' to share in the experience. Children learn about good manners as 'Rebecca' is also expected to sit on her chair and eat nicely. There is lots of discussion about the importance of hand washing. Children have their own towels so hygiene is well managed.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

The childminder knows the children well and provides consistent care for families over many years. She uses a diary to share the children's daily routines and care needs. She is a good role model as she gets very involved in the children's play. This gives them confidence to explore with lots of praise and appropriate assistance. This supports the skills they will need as they move on to new life experiences, such as pre-school and school.

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provision

Children's safety is of high priority. The childminder has a good understanding of safeguarding issues as she has attended several courses throughout her registration, which ensures she is fully aware of the signs of abuse and the referral process. She uses the information from the Local Safeguarding Children Board to keep parents informed of her responsibilities in her policies and has information on display. Effective risk assessments identify and minimise risk for children in the home and on outings.

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provision

The childminder has a good understanding of the revised Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. She uses Development Matters to provide an educational programme to ensure children are making good progress and to plan for their next steps. The childminder has established strong links with other early years settings, such as the local pre-school and the Sure Start children's centre, for support and training. She reviews her practice and has met the recommendations made at the last inspection. At this time she does not seek the views of parents to ensure she has the information to identify areas for future improvements and to enable her to fully evaluate her practice.

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provision

Partnership with parents is strong in most respects. The childminder knows the children and their families well. She is involved in preparing children for new experiences, such as starting pre-school and nursery. She talks with parents about the information gained through the two year progress check to promote children's progress and learning.

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The Childcare Register

The requirements for the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are Met The requirements for the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are Met

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Grade Judgement Description

Grade 1 Outstanding Outstanding provision is highly effective in meeting the needs of all children exceptionally well. This ensures that children are very well prepared for the next stage of their learning. Grade 2 Good Good provision is effective in delivering provision that meets the needs of all children well. This ensures children are ready for the next stage of their learning. Grade 3 Satisfactory Satisfactory provision is performing less well than expectations in one or more of the key areas. It requires improvement in order to be good. Grade 4 Inadequate Provision that is inadequate requires significant improvement and/or enforcement. The provision is failing to give children an acceptable standard of early years education and/or is not meeting the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be inspected again within 12 months of the date of this inspection.

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Grade Judgement Description

Met The provision has no children on roll. The inspection judgement is that the provider continues to meet the requirements for registration. Not Met The provision has no children on roll. The inspection judgement is that the provider does not meet the requirements for registration.

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Inspection

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY258146 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 819774 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 2

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Telephone number

set out in the guidance ‘raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk.

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Type of provision

For the purposes of this inspection the following definitions apply:

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Type of provision

Full-time provision is that which operates for more than three hours. These are usually known as nurseries, nursery schools and pre-schools and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. They are registered on the Early Years Register and pay the higher fee for registration.

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Type of provision

Sessional provision operates for more than two hours but does not exceed three hours in any one day. These are usually known as pre-schools, kindergartens or nursery schools and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. They are registered on the Early Years Register and pay the lower fee for registration. Childminders care for one or more children where individual children attend for a period of more than two hours in any one day. They operate from domestic premises that are usually their own home. They are registered on the Early Years Register and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Type of provision

Out of school provision may be sessional or full-time provision and is delivered before or after school and/or in the summer holidays. They are registered on the Early Years Register and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. Where children receive their Early Years Foundation Stage in school these providers do not have to deliver the learning and development requirements in full but should complement the experiences children receive in school. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children,

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Type of provision

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Type of provision

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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